Semi Automatic Rifles Chambered in 7.62 x 39 - Survey

YankeeIronSights · December 15, 2013, 10:37 PM

Hi Everyone:

I would like your input for the following survey:

How do you rank ( 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th best) the following semiautomatic rifles, in terms of general - all around - best value and ownership satisfaction? I am looking for overall best buy, considering their use for home defense and as range rifles. I know that three of them are true military rifles, at least two may be used for hunting, and round capacity and prices may vary. They are all great rifles and each offers unique features, but I want to know your general opinions...

These are the 4 competitors:

- AK47 (MAK90 Pre-Ban 1994)
- VZ-58/VZ-2008
- SKS -Yugo
- New Ruger Mini 30

kilimanjaro · December 15, 2013, 10:57 PM

I rate the Ruger over the SKS, due to detachable magazines and length of stock pull, and being made in the USA.

I like the SKS.

The other two I have not much experience with, so won't offer opinion.

Sarge · December 16, 2013, 12:04 AM

I've shot lots of SKS carbines and 3-4 Mini 30's and the AK, more extensively. I gave not messed with a VZ.But among the others, I'd take the AK. With a little work they can be a 2 MOA or under carbine.

armoredman · December 16, 2013, 12:33 AM

I've had vz-58 and Yugos, and shot the MAK-90 and Ruger rifles, but that was a long time ago. My personal ranking, based n 20 year old recollections...

1 SA vz-58
2 MAK-90
3 Yugo SKS
4 Ruger Mini-30...at least the one I fired many years ago.

Gunplummer · December 16, 2013, 12:59 AM

AR in 7.62x39

MTT TL · December 16, 2013, 07:47 AM

Without knowing the price for each it impossible to know which is the "best buy".

Utility wise I would rate them same as armoredman.

papershotshells · December 16, 2013, 08:09 PM

I think that for overall accuracy, reliability and general handiness, it's damn hard to beat an SKS. Depending on price point, of course.

I've bought, sold, traded and owned dozens of SKS rifles over the last 20 or so years and I would never be without one again. I don't think the fixed magazine (I only use the factory 10 rounders) is a handicap for any use short of full blown all out combat, and with some practice they can be reloading pretty abruptly with stripper clips.

An SKS is rugged, decently accurate and will go bang everytime you pull the trigger. Hard to ask for more (especially when I used to buy them for $89.00, lol).

Papershotshells

Garycw · December 16, 2013, 08:37 PM

Overall best buy..SKS. I'm just wondering why you specified YUGO ?
Ak would be a close 2nd.

PetahW · December 16, 2013, 09:07 PM

.

You might've gotten a better participation if this was posted in the Semi-automactic section, just above.

.

barnbwt · December 16, 2013, 11:00 PM

1) VZ58 (great design, great package, great execution --even by Century

)
1) Purpose-built AR in 7.62x39 (some SIG variant, for example, no personal XP)
2) Kit-built VZ58 (from 100% receiver and parts)
2) CZ527 (guessing, no experience here. They look/sound nice)
3) SKS (solid #2 if a variant that uses AK mags)
3) Kit-built AK (from cheap unbent flat)
4) ARx39 aftermarket upper (probably, no experience here)
4.5) Ruger (good guns, but pricey for what they are)
4.75) VZ52 (guessing, no experience here), better than the SKS, but uncommon
5)Rasheed; Egyptian licensed copy of the C. Gustav Ljungman Rifle (good gun, weird operation, and uncommon)
5) AK (as you may guess, I really hate the AK ergonomics

) since they are so terribly overpriced these days for a very crude arm
5.5) Tantal, because no one else will have one when the SHTEOTWAKI

6) Galil. Cool and all, but basically still an AK, and have you priced these lately?!
6) Belt fed VZ58 (I have me an idea

), if only because it'd be smaller than the RPD for probably the same money/effort
6.5) RPD, because belt feds rule but are wildly impractical. I need no personal experience to know this to be true. IIRC, the x39 was built for this gun

TCB

bamaranger · December 17, 2013, 02:30 AM

1. Mini-30-US made, US support net, good trigger, easily scoped, Garand heritage, my experience: as accurate or more so than than an AK

2. AK/MAK- fair quality, dependable, trigger can be bad, sights worse, may not be easily scoped

3. VZ -no personal experience

4. SKS-to dang long and heavy compared to its competition, quality all over the board, not easily scoped

FALPhil · December 17, 2013, 09:56 AM

Personally, when it comes to 7.62x39, I am partial to sheet metal AKs for working guns, because compared to everything else, they are lightweight as well as durable and reliable. However, the collector in me really likes the SKS and the Vz58.

I have already owned my last Ruger rifle, so, I have no opinion on the Mini 30.

2damnold4this · December 17, 2013, 11:16 AM

I've owned a few semiautos in 7.62x39. The Chinese made SKS was probably the best value as it was reliable, reasonably accurate and dirt cheap. The Rasheed was accurate but never ran right. I've never owned an AK but the ones I have shot worked just fine.

Bigfatts · December 17, 2013, 02:10 PM

My list would go AK, Mini, SKS, VZ. The VZ only rates below the SKS because I have never handled one. Here's my take on each:

AK- Can be had in varying quality and price ranges. Rugged, reliable and lightweight. You can do anything you want to an AK, you will never run short of aftermarket doodads and upgrades. Mags are cheap and easy to find.

Mini 30- Like the Mini 14 I feel the 30 is overpriced. Factory stock is junk. Accuracy on par with an AK from the ones I've seen. Decent aftermarket support. Mags are available though not as cheaply as the AK.

SKS- I don't like the SKS. The stocks are too short, it's too heavy. 10 round fixed mag. There are aftermarket parts for it but it's really better left in atock form, they just look silly in a different stock. No real good way to mount optics. And lastly, the price. They are so inflated right now it's not even funny. Last Yugo I saw at a gunshow was in the $400 range. No thanks.

VZ-58- I have no opinion, never handled one.

Anyways, that's my opinion. I'd rather have a 7.62 AR over any of them. And if I was getting an AR I'd go ahead and get a different caliber, so I guess I'm no help at all.

2damnold4this · December 17, 2013, 03:08 PM

I think if I was going to get a rifle for home defense, I'd want it in .223/5.56 due to the greater selection of good defense ammo.

9x19 · December 17, 2013, 04:08 PM

The Sig 556R would top my list, as I like the overall package and it takes AK47 mags which are plentiful.

The Ruger Mini 30 would be a distant second, still easy to mount optics but proprietary mags and some have issues with steel cased ammo.

The com-bloc clones would come after, in no particular order, as I'm old enough to need optics on my guns and (as designed) most of the AK, SK, VZ type rifles are not optics friendly.

WardenWolf · December 17, 2013, 04:13 PM

If you're wanting to scope it or otherwise mount optics, the AK, no question. Just make sure you get one with a siderail on the left side of the receiver. Both the VZ and SKS are hard to scope, and the Mini-30 is inaccurate even compared to a WASR. Yeah, it's that bad. I'd honestly recommend a VEPR or SGL-21 over an old MAK-90, though.

The VZ is a great gun, but it's just too weird to be practical. The Czechs intentionally designed it to be completely incompatible with the AK, save for the round it fires, as an act of defiance against the Soviet regime. Is it a very lightweight and accurate rifle? Yes. But with no good way to scope or accessorize it, it's a poor choice.

Quentin2 · December 17, 2013, 04:25 PM

Quote:

... considering their use for home defense and as range rifles ...

For those applications I'd have to say the AK. I have a cheap one and an SKS. Both are good rifles but overall I have to go with the AK. I've also fired Mini-30s and try to like them but again the AK is superior. Haven't fired the VZ but have heard good things.

Fishbed77 · December 17, 2013, 04:52 PM

My ranking of the OP's options would be:

1. pre-ban MAK-90
2. VZ-58
3. Mini-30
4. SKS

That said, I like my Saigas.

new_scopeshooter · December 17, 2013, 05:02 PM

None!
Sig 556r!!!!!!

Jim243 · December 17, 2013, 05:16 PM

Quote:

not easily scoped

Not true, very easy to scope.

Jim

5.56RifleGuy · December 17, 2013, 05:38 PM

"But with no good way to scope or accessorize it, it's a poor choice."

You can scope the vz 58 with a side mount rail similar to the aks. A few of companies make junk for the VZ 58 also.

SR420 · December 17, 2013, 06:53 PM

Nothing says 7.62 x 39 Semi Automatic Rifle better than AK47

Pre-Ban Norinco type 56s (higher end AK)

papershotshells · December 17, 2013, 07:08 PM

Jim243,

I agree, an SKS is very easy to add a short scope or a red dot to. The mount, if installed properly (such as an oversized grind to fit model), is very rigid.

Papershotshells

hodaka · December 17, 2013, 07:26 PM

I've never owned a VZ-58 so I can't comment. I have owned a Maadi (?) AK and a Russian SKS. I have sold both of them. The AK's trigger was terrible and the SKS was to heavy for a carbine caliber. Both were reliable but heavy and ugly. I currently have a new Mini-30. It is by far my favorite. It is a ranch model so easy to scope. It has never failed to shoot and with my reloads will keep them in a 2-3 inch group at 100. Some of you must be thinking of the older ones. I have an older Mini-14 and there is no comparison. I put a Hogue stock on it and really like everything about it.

December 15, 2013, 10:37 PM	#1
YankeeIronSights Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2012 Location: USA Posts: 261	Semi Automatic Rifles Chambered in 7.62 x 39 - Survey Hi Everyone: I would like your input for the following survey: How do you rank ( 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th best) the following semiautomatic rifles, in terms of general - all around - best value and ownership satisfaction? I am looking for overall best buy, considering their use for home defense and as range rifles. I know that three of them are true military rifles, at least two may be used for hunting, and round capacity and prices may vary. They are all great rifles and each offers unique features, but I want to know your general opinions... These are the 4 competitors: - AK47 (MAK90 Pre-Ban 1994) - VZ-58/VZ-2008 - SKS -Yugo - New Ruger Mini 30

December 16, 2013, 12:04 AM	#3
Sarge Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2002 Location: MO Posts: 5,457	I've shot lots of SKS carbines and 3-4 Mini 30's and the AK, more extensively. I gave not messed with a VZ.But among the others, I'd take the AK. With a little work they can be a 2 MOA or under carbine. __________________ People were smarter before the Internet, or imbeciles were harder to notice.

December 16, 2013, 07:47 AM	#6
MTT TL Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 2009 Location: Quadling Country Posts: 2,780	Without knowing the price for each it impossible to know which is the "best buy". Utility wise I would rate them same as armoredman. __________________ Thus a man should endeavor to reach this high place of courage with all his heart, and, so trying, never be backward in war.

December 16, 2013, 11:00 PM	#10
barnbwt Senior Member Join Date: May 17, 2012 Posts: 1,085	1) VZ58 (great design, great package, great execution --even by Century ) 1) Purpose-built AR in 7.62x39 (some SIG variant, for example, no personal XP) 2) Kit-built VZ58 (from 100% receiver and parts) 2) CZ527 (guessing, no experience here. They look/sound nice) 3) SKS (solid #2 if a variant that uses AK mags) 3) Kit-built AK (from cheap unbent flat) 4) ARx39 aftermarket upper (probably, no experience here) 4.5) Ruger (good guns, but pricey for what they are) 4.75) VZ52 (guessing, no experience here), better than the SKS, but uncommon 5)Rasheed; Egyptian licensed copy of the C. Gustav Ljungman Rifle (good gun, weird operation, and uncommon) 5) AK (as you may guess, I really hate the AK ergonomics ) since they are so terribly overpriced these days for a very crude arm 5.5) Tantal, because no one else will have one when the SHTEOTWAKI 6) Galil. Cool and all, but basically still an AK, and have you priced these lately?! 6) Belt fed VZ58 (I have me an idea ), if only because it'd be smaller than the RPD for probably the same money/effort 6.5) RPD, because belt feds rule but are wildly impractical. I need no personal experience to know this to be true. IIRC, the x39 was built for this gun TCB __________________ "I don't believe that the men of the distant past were any wiser than we are today. But it does seem that their science and technology were able to accomplish much grander things." -- Alex Rosewater

December 17, 2013, 02:30 AM	#11
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,300	1 thru 4 1. Mini-30-US made, US support net, good trigger, easily scoped, Garand heritage, my experience: as accurate or more so than than an AK 2. AK/MAK- fair quality, dependable, trigger can be bad, sights worse, may not be easily scoped 3. VZ -no personal experience 4. SKS-to dang long and heavy compared to its competition, quality all over the board, not easily scoped

December 15, 2013, 10:57 PM	#2
kilimanjaro Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2009 Posts: 3,963	I rate the Ruger over the SKS, due to detachable magazines and length of stock pull, and being made in the USA. I like the SKS. The other two I have not much experience with, so won't offer opinion.

December 16, 2013, 12:33 AM	#4
armoredman Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 5,297	I've had vz-58 and Yugos, and shot the MAK-90 and Ruger rifles, but that was a long time ago. My personal ranking, based n 20 year old recollections... 1 SA vz-58 2 MAK-90 3 Yugo SKS 4 Ruger Mini-30...at least the one I fired many years ago.

December 16, 2013, 12:59 AM	#5
Gunplummer Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2010 Location: South East Pa. Posts: 3,364	AR in 7.62x39

December 16, 2013, 08:09 PM	#7
papershotshells Senior Member Join Date: November 13, 2013 Posts: 134	I think that for overall accuracy, reliability and general handiness, it's damn hard to beat an SKS. Depending on price point, of course. I've bought, sold, traded and owned dozens of SKS rifles over the last 20 or so years and I would never be without one again. I don't think the fixed magazine (I only use the factory 10 rounders) is a handicap for any use short of full blown all out combat, and with some practice they can be reloading pretty abruptly with stripper clips. An SKS is rugged, decently accurate and will go bang everytime you pull the trigger. Hard to ask for more (especially when I used to buy them for $89.00, lol). Papershotshells

December 16, 2013, 08:37 PM	#8
Garycw Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2011 Location: Ohio-Kentucky - florida Posts: 1,221	Overall best buy..SKS. I'm just wondering why you specified YUGO ? Ak would be a close 2nd.

December 16, 2013, 09:07 PM	#9
PetahW Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2008 Posts: 4,678	. You might've gotten a better participation if this was posted in the Semi-automactic section, just above. .

December 17, 2013, 09:56 AM	#12
FALPhil Senior Member Join Date: September 10, 2007 Location: Racoon City Posts: 934	Personally, when it comes to 7.62x39, I am partial to sheet metal AKs for working guns, because compared to everything else, they are lightweight as well as durable and reliable. However, the collector in me really likes the SKS and the Vz58. I have already owned my last Ruger rifle, so, I have no opinion on the Mini 30. __________________ _____________________________________________ Questions about 7.62 NATO and 308 Winchester? Click here.

December 17, 2013, 11:16 AM	#13
2damnold4this Senior Member Join Date: August 12, 2009 Location: Athens, Georgia Posts: 2,526	I've owned a few semiautos in 7.62x39. The Chinese made SKS was probably the best value as it was reliable, reasonably accurate and dirt cheap. The Rasheed was accurate but never ran right. I've never owned an AK but the ones I have shot worked just fine.

December 17, 2013, 02:10 PM	#14
Bigfatts Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2005 Location: Lutz Posts: 1,528	My list would go AK, Mini, SKS, VZ. The VZ only rates below the SKS because I have never handled one. Here's my take on each: AK- Can be had in varying quality and price ranges. Rugged, reliable and lightweight. You can do anything you want to an AK, you will never run short of aftermarket doodads and upgrades. Mags are cheap and easy to find. Mini 30- Like the Mini 14 I feel the 30 is overpriced. Factory stock is junk. Accuracy on par with an AK from the ones I've seen. Decent aftermarket support. Mags are available though not as cheaply as the AK. SKS- I don't like the SKS. The stocks are too short, it's too heavy. 10 round fixed mag. There are aftermarket parts for it but it's really better left in atock form, they just look silly in a different stock. No real good way to mount optics. And lastly, the price. They are so inflated right now it's not even funny. Last Yugo I saw at a gunshow was in the $400 range. No thanks. VZ-58- I have no opinion, never handled one. Anyways, that's my opinion. I'd rather have a 7.62 AR over any of them. And if I was getting an AR I'd go ahead and get a different caliber, so I guess I'm no help at all.

December 17, 2013, 03:08 PM	#15
2damnold4this Senior Member Join Date: August 12, 2009 Location: Athens, Georgia Posts: 2,526	I think if I was going to get a rifle for home defense, I'd want it in .223/5.56 due to the greater selection of good defense ammo.

December 17, 2013, 04:08 PM	#16
9x19 Senior Member Join Date: October 15, 1998 Location: Sherman, TX USA Posts: 3,750	The Sig 556R would top my list, as I like the overall package and it takes AK47 mags which are plentiful. The Ruger Mini 30 would be a distant second, still easy to mount optics but proprietary mags and some have issues with steel cased ammo. The com-bloc clones would come after, in no particular order, as I'm old enough to need optics on my guns and (as designed) most of the AK, SK, VZ type rifles are not optics friendly. __________________ Make mine lean, mean, and 9x19!

December 17, 2013, 04:13 PM	#17
WardenWolf Junior member Join Date: December 12, 2013 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 135	If you're wanting to scope it or otherwise mount optics, the AK, no question. Just make sure you get one with a siderail on the left side of the receiver. Both the VZ and SKS are hard to scope, and the Mini-30 is inaccurate even compared to a WASR. Yeah, it's that bad. I'd honestly recommend a VEPR or SGL-21 over an old MAK-90, though. The VZ is a great gun, but it's just too weird to be practical. The Czechs intentionally designed it to be completely incompatible with the AK, save for the round it fires, as an act of defiance against the Soviet regime. Is it a very lightweight and accurate rifle? Yes. But with no good way to scope or accessorize it, it's a poor choice.

December 17, 2013, 04:52 PM	#19
Fishbed77 Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2010 Posts: 4,862	My ranking of the OP's options would be: 1. pre-ban MAK-90 2. VZ-58 3. Mini-30 4. SKS That said, I like my Saigas.

December 17, 2013, 05:02 PM	#20
new_scopeshooter Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2011 Location: central ohio Posts: 391	None! Sig 556r!!!!!!

December 17, 2013, 05:38 PM	#22
5.56RifleGuy Senior Member Join Date: May 9, 2010 Location: USA Posts: 1,212	"But with no good way to scope or accessorize it, it's a poor choice." You can scope the vz 58 with a side mount rail similar to the aks. A few of companies make junk for the VZ 58 also. __________________ Sic Semper Tyrannosaurus

December 17, 2013, 06:53 PM	#23
SR420 Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2005 Location: Georgia, USA Posts: 3,336	Nothing says 7.62 x 39 Semi Automatic Rifle better than AK47 Pre-Ban Norinco type 56s (higher end AK) __________________ The History and Development of the M14 EBR Last edited by SR420; December 18, 2013 at 10:10 PM.

December 17, 2013, 07:08 PM	#24
papershotshells Senior Member Join Date: November 13, 2013 Posts: 134	Jim243, I agree, an SKS is very easy to add a short scope or a red dot to. The mount, if installed properly (such as an oversized grind to fit model), is very rigid. Papershotshells

December 17, 2013, 07:26 PM	#25
hodaka Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 2,010	I've never owned a VZ-58 so I can't comment. I have owned a Maadi (?) AK and a Russian SKS. I have sold both of them. The AK's trigger was terrible and the SKS was to heavy for a carbine caliber. Both were reliable but heavy and ugly. I currently have a new Mini-30. It is by far my favorite. It is a ranch model so easy to scope. It has never failed to shoot and with my reloads will keep them in a 2-3 inch group at 100. Some of you must be thinking of the older ones. I have an older Mini-14 and there is no comparison. I put a Hogue stock on it and really like everything about it.

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